Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 484: Nostalgic Hometown
Former Viscount Saissi, believed to have masterminded numerous crimes, had surrendered and been arrested by the Kingdom Knights. He later died in custody in what was officially declared a suicide, bringing the case to a close.
House Saissi was stripped of its title, and its territory was placed under direct royal administration, where it remained.
The former Saissi territory contained a mine that produced valuable mithril ore. Control of that resource had become the subject of fierce conflict among the kingdom’s noble factions.
Because the late viscount had belonged to Marquis Halagoura’s faction, that faction argued that his son should inherit both the title and the territory.
The opposing factions naturally rejected the proposal.
The mithril mine had been one of the Halagoura faction’s most important sources of funding.
The royal family had no intention of allowing a family stained by the late viscount’s crimes to retain control of the territory.
The land therefore remained under royal administration. Taking advantage of the Halagoura Marquisate’s proximity, however, House Halagoura continued lobbying for the former Saissi territory to be divided among neighboring nobles.
The Crown Prince himself led that campaign.
He repeatedly argued before the king and the court that dividing the land according to the contributions of the surrounding nobles would be fair.
His true objective, of course, was to ensure that the priceless mithril mine eventually came under House Halagoura’s control.
For several reasons, the former Saissi territory had become a focus of attention throughout noble society.
“That’s the situation in brief.”
As the carriage rocked along the road, Tauro explained what had happened to his hometown and its former ruling family.
“Your hometown has become quite a political mess,” Ankh said, sounding exasperated.
“What a shame, especially when you’re finally returning after so long,” Aeris added with a disappointed sigh.
“The former lord tried to have me assassinated, so none of this can really be helped. I feel sorry for the people who live there, but royal administration may be better for them than what they had before.”
“Even if the ruler has changed, the people you knew should still be there,” Ragune said. “We’ll reach Saisi soon. Is there anyone you want to see?”
She could sense Tauro’s complicated feelings as he approached his hometown for the first time in three years.
“Plenty of people. Most of them are connected to the Adventurers’ Guild, so I’d love to visit the branch.”
Tauro’s expression softened with nostalgia.
“I can’t wait to see the town where you grew up, Tauro-sama!” Zion said, almost bursting with excitement.
“Neither can I,” Aeris agreed. “Now that the viscount who drove you away is gone, perhaps you can finally relax there.”
They both understood, however, that traveling with the Saint’s entourage left little freedom in the schedule.
In reality, Tauro would have almost no opportunity to enjoy his return.
When the procession reached Saisi, a magistrate appointed by the royal family greeted it at the town gate.
He escorted the Saint and the delegations to the former Viscount Saissi residence, which had been repurposed as the administrative estate.
Tauro and his companions followed with the rest of the procession.
He wanted to leave the carriage when they passed the Adventurers’ Guild, but doing so was impossible while they were still performing escort duties.
Through the carriage window, Tauro thought he recognized several townspeople and adventurers among the crowd waving to the Saint’s party, though he couldn’t be certain.
“I wonder how everyone has been…”
He was astonished by how much Saisi had changed in three years.
Most of its buildings had been rebuilt or renovated.
The prosperity created by the mithril mine had probably benefited many people, directly or indirectly.
One building, however, looked almost exactly as he remembered it.
It was the curry shop Tauro owned.
Three years earlier, he had invested his own money to renovate an abandoned tavern and open his first curry shop. It still stood in the same place.
The Adventurers’ Guild building and the neighboring tavern-restaurant, the Resting Pavilion, had both been replaced by newer structures.
Fortunately, their familiar signs remained, showing that the businesses had merely rebuilt rather than relocated.
“It’s hard to believe a town can change this much in only three years.”
Tauro moved from one carriage window to the other, studying the streets with a conflicted sigh.
“It must be the mithril boom,” Aeris said gently. “People probably decided it was the perfect time to rebuild. The buildings may have changed, but I doubt the people have.”
“You’re right. Still, it looks as though I won’t have time to visit the guild after all. I’ll have to postpone it.”
Tauro’s long-awaited return home seemed destined to amount to little more than passing through town.
The former Viscount Saissi residence no longer resembled the estate Tauro remembered.
It had been rebuilt completely and now possessed the grandeur of a powerful noble’s mansion.
The transformation demonstrated just how profitable the mithril mine had become.
Inside, the leaders of the local guilds, major merchants, and other influential residents had gathered to welcome the visitors.
The carriages carrying the Saint and the principal members of both delegations stopped before the estate one after another.
Because Tauro’s party had traveled near the front of the procession, they arrived early and joined the Royal Guard in receiving the Saint and her attendants.
That, too, was part of their temporary escort duty.
As a precaution, Tauro kept [Presence Detection] active while surveying the area.
He suddenly sensed someone forcing a way through the crowd behind him.
Tauro turned.
The Royal Guard noticed the movement as well and immediately stepped forward to block the approaching figure.
“Wait! I’m the branch manager of this town’s Adventurers’ Guild! I only need to speak to that boy, so calm down!”
The man slipped past the knights attempting to restrain him with astonishing ease.
He had bright orange hair resembling a lion’s mane, an eyepatch, and an imposing presence. After identifying himself as the local branch manager, he pointed directly at Tauro.
“Ah!”
Tauro gasped at the painfully familiar face.
The man was Leo—the person who had taken Tauro in when he was a homeless child, found him a place to stay, employed him at the guild, and helped set him on the path to becoming an adventurer.